?? A Nostalgic Leap Back in Time: My First C Program After YEARS! ?????

?? Back to the Basics, but with a Twist! ?? As someone who has been immersed in the elegance and ease of Python ?? for years, I never thought I’d go back to my roots with C. But life (and coding challenges) often have a way of surprising you! ?

?? The Scenario: The other day, I stumbled upon a problem that reminded me of how far I’ve come since my early programming days. The challenge seemed straightforward on the surface but had a hidden layer of complexity. I decided to tackle it with Python first – my go-to language for almost everything these days.

But then I thought... "Why not try it in C for old times' sake?" ?? That simple thought turned into a journey down memory lane, filled with nostalgia, debugging, and rediscovering the raw power of C.

?? The Challenge: Counting Communicating Servers

Here’s the task:

• You’re given a 2D grid where:1 represents a server.0 represents an empty space.
• A server can communicate with others if they’re in the same row or column.
• The goal: Count all the servers that can communicate with at least one other server.

Sounds simple, right? Wait till you dive into edge cases and optimization! ??

?? Step 1: Python to the Rescue! I quickly wrote a solution in Python (because let’s be real, who doesn’t love Python for its readability?). The implementation was clean, intuitive, and did the job efficiently:

Python 
class Solution:
    def countServers(self, grid: List[List[int]]) -> int:
        m, n = len(grid), len(grid[0])
        row, col = [0] * m, [0] * n
        for i in range(m):
            for j in range(n):
                if grid[i][j]:
                    row[i] += 1
                    col[j] += 1
        res = 0
        for i in range(m):
            for j in range(n):
                if grid[i][j] and (row[i] > 1 or col[j] > 1):
                    res += 1
        return res        

?? Performance in Python:

• Runtime: 18 ms
• Memory Usage: 19.52 MB

Not bad, right? Python’s simplicity made the entire process smooth. But then… I wondered:

? "Can I make it even faster? Can I relive the thrill of low-level programming?"

?? Step 2: Enter C – The OG Language! Rewriting the solution in C was like meeting an old friend after years. I had to dig into syntax, pointers, memory allocation – things I hadn’t touched in a long time. It wasn’t just a challenge; it was a reminder of how much I had learned since those early days.

C

int countServers(int** grid, int gridSize, int* gridColSize) {
    int m = gridSize;
    int n = gridColSize[0];
    int row[m], col[n];
    int res = 0;

    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++) row[i] = 0;
    for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) col[j] = 0;

    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
            if (grid[i][j] == 1) {
                row[i]++;
                col[j]++;
            }
        }
    }

    for (int i = 0; i < m; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
            if (grid[i][j] == 1 && (row[i] > 1 || col[j] > 1)) {
                res++;
            }
        }
    }
    return res;
}
        

? Performance in C: When I ran the C code, my jaw dropped:

• Runtime: 0 ms ?? (Yes, you read that right – zero!)
• Memory Usage: 13.18 MB

The speed and efficiency reminded me why C is still the king for performance-critical tasks.

? Key Takeaways:

• Python: Simple, elegant, and great for quick development.
• C: Blazing fast, highly efficient, and perfect for optimizing performance.

Rewriting the problem in C wasn’t just about speed. It was a trip back to where it all started – those late-night debugging sessions, figuring out pointers, and understanding how computers work under the hood.

?? Performance Comparison at a Glance:

1. Python ?? Runtime 18ms , Memory 19.52 MB.
2. C ?? Runtime 0ms , Memory 13.18 MB.

?? Why This Matters: As developers, we often stick to what’s familiar and efficient. But stepping out of your comfort zone – whether it’s trying a new language or revisiting an old one – can lead to incredible insights and growth.

This journey wasn’t just about solving a problem. It was about rediscovering my passion for coding, the joy of optimization, and the beauty of languages like C that shaped the programmer I am today.

What about you? When was the last time you revisited an old skill or language? Let’s reminisce and share stories!